We occupy, as IT has been said many times, a position in society that is unique-unique in many ways but none more critical to understand and appreciate than the uniqueness of the commitment of the firefighter, critical to understand for the firefighter and those who would choose to lead. To paraphrase President Lincoln, firefighters approach each opportunity to serve, "With charity toward all and malice toward none." The defense of our communities and the protection of our citizens are a great and honorable calling. In our commitment to the mission, we accept the risks and the rewards alike. Our commitment is what emboldens a firefighter to be able to enter into a deadly environment to save the life of another.
The leaders of the fire service know dedicated firefighters don't put their lives at risk for medals, or glory, or fame. They do it because they truly believe, if not me, who? If not here, where? If not now, when? Our leadership understands firefighters have made this commitment consciously, thoughtfully. Only the uninitiated think otherwise. To paraphrase Sir William Francis Butler, "The nation that will insist on drawing a broad line of demarcation between the firefighter and the thinking man is liable to find its firefighting done by fools and its thinking done by cowards." No dedicated firefighter takes this commitment foolishly, and our leaders are anything but cowards.
It has been said by the most eloquent of philosophers that the most powerful human disposition is self-preservation. That being universally understood, the most elaborate and heartfelt tributes and recognitions go out to those who have chosen to honor their commitment and who have sacrificed their lives so that others might live. Understandably, these tributes and recognitions are rare, because such heroism is rare.
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